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Weekly Update
Friday, February 23, 2024
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The Second Sunday in Lent
February 25, at 10:00 a.m. (Hybrid)
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Lenten worship continues around the theme of Dwelling in the Heart this Sunday.
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Zoom Link: HERE
Meeting ID: 832 4667 4155
Passcode: 431699
Dial in: 1 646 558 86560
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The bulletin is available HERE
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Tomorrow Saturday, February 24, 2024
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Remembering and Celebrating Jenny Weisz - In-person and on Zoom
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At 2pm tomorrow, we will share music, memories, and prayers as we remember and celebrate the life of our beloved member, Jenny Weisz. You can find her obituary here, along with information about a scholarship fund in her memory. All are invited to the church, or to share the service via Zoom.
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The service will be streamed through our regular Sunday Worship Service Zoom link, which you can find above.
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Sunday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.
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We are blessed to gather with the Boston Taiwanese Christian Church (波士頓台灣基督教會) for worship on March 3, where we will gather around the communion table and raise our voices in song together.
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Pastor's Blog
Pastor Amy - 2/23/2024
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In the season of Lent, with practices of fasting, simplifying, and reducing our reliance on material things, we remember what it is to be fully human, prone to human suffering and shortcomings. We do this to make space for God in our lives, and to remember more fully that we are beloved and made in the image of God. Rabbi Tova Spitzer of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in Newton shares a story that has been on my heart this Lent. She says "It was said of Reb Simcha Bunem that he carried two slips of paper, one in each pocket. On one he wrote: Bishvili nivra ha-olam—“for my sake the world was created.” On the other he wrote: V’anokhi afar v’efer”—“I am but dust and ashes.”" The story speaks to the kind of balance we are meant to find as we seek to do the big and important work of "doing justice, loving kindness" while also "walking humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8).
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This week, we mourn and celebrate the live a beloved servant of God in our church, Jenny Weisz, who lived this out. We also enter the third week of Lent, journeying alongside Jesus, seeking to dwell in the very heart of God - remembering our belovedness; looking with openness at the fragility and preciousness of life; and putting aside those things that get between us and God, and us and one another. Jesus was both fully human and divine. We are both fully human and the body of Christ. May we find comfort and guidance in dwelling in the very heart of God, humbly and with great love, with one another this Lent.
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Loving God, hear the prayers of your people gathered in this community:
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- We pray for Susan Hunt Stevens, recovering from hip replacement surgery yesterday. May she be comforted and cared for well as she heals.
- We pray for Tom Humphrey in his continued recovery and healing.
- We pray for all who will gather tomorrow at the church and on Zoom to celebrate Jenny Weisz’s life. May your Spirit of comfort and love be among us as we remember and pray, O God.
- For all of our unhoused siblings sleeping rough in the cold and wet weather these last few weeks, and for our migrant siblings seeking shelter and safety in our communities.
- For all in our UCW community who are ill, or who are caring for loved ones. For all who grieve, God, we ask for the comfort of your presence.
- We pray for peace all throughout the world. Teach us to beat our swords into plowshares, O God, and to sow wisdom and reap peace, justice, and joy for all people.
We pray to you, grateful for your accompaniment with us in all things. Amen.
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If you have other prayers of concern or celebration you
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would like lifted up in community, please email
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UCW Lenten Playlist
Dwelling in the Heart
Now Available!
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The Worship Committee is delighted to release the first ever Lenten playlist. Over the last few weeks, 16 people have shared 26 songs that resonate with them and allow them to “Dwell in the heart”. We have 1 hour and 45 minutes of music so far.
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The playlist is available on Spotify: HERE
And also on Apple Music: HERE
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In order to listen to them, you will need an account on either of these platforms. If you don’t have either, I would recommend creating a free account on Spotify. If you encounter any issues with this, please let me know!
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If you want to know who submitted which song(s) and why, here is a document with all that information: HERE
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It is also a great source for if you just want to see what is on the list.
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Also, this list is not “done”. If the season, or just this list, makes you think of other songs you would like to share, please send them to me, and I will add them!
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Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution to this list. I have had the privilege to listen to this music over the last few weeks as it came in. And it is truly inspiring!
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GBIO Housing Justice Rally!
Sunday, March 3 - Please Register Below
GBIO is hoping for 1,700 people to attend its Housing Justice Rally at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC). The rally’s purpose is to push GBIO’s Housing Justice Campaign across the finish line, and a huge turnout is the most effective way to show our legislators just how important housing issues are to people of all faiths across Greater Boston.
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- Improve public housing,
- Expand affordable homeownership and rentals,
- Improve housing access for Returning Citizens.
As of Tuesday, February 20, 812 people have registered – six of them from Union Church in Waban. Pastor Megan and I told GBIO that we hope to send 20 UCW members to the rally. So, if you have not registered yet, please do so!
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Register HERE
UCW carpools will be organized after church on Sunday.
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Thank you!
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All-Church Gatherings & Adult Formation
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Wellspring Women's Ministry
Wednesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m.(In-Person)
Due to Valentine’s Day, our February gathering is little later in the month than usual. It will be on this upcoming Wednesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Littlehale.
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It will be a potluck gathering at the Union Church, so folks can bring whatever they would like. Newcomers are welcome!
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Wellspring is our women's ministry at UCW. We come together to support each other as we journey together in these times. If you are interested in learning more about Wellspring, please contact Amy McMahon at [email protected].
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March Book Group
Tuesday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m.
(Note: No book group scheduled for February.)
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Please join us again in March for our next book group. Our book will be "The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning" by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketchum
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The March zoom link will be posted as the date approaches. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alan Cody ([email protected]).
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Caregiving in the (Multi-Layered) Sandwich
This group will resume again soon
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More and more members of our community find themselves caring for loved-ones across the generations -- caring for aging parents, as well as for children, adult children, grandchildren, and others. All are invited to gather for guided discussion, mutual support, and prayer once a month through the holidays and into Epiphany.
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We met twice in December, and will poll interested members to find dates for February and March.
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Please let Pastor Amy ([email protected]) know if you are interested.
We will gather in-person in Pastor Amy's Office.
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Dwelling in the Heart of God in Creation
Share Your Lenten Commitment - To Simplify, Connect with Creation, and/or Carbon Diet
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Lent is for prioritizing and making space the spiritual and downplaying the material. This year, we are inviting the church to consider joining in the rhythms of creation, simplifying, and cutting back on things we do or consume that cause damage to ourselves and creation. Will you commit to driving fewer miles, keeping a lower thermostat, becoming more aware of your Carbon footprint, or (studies show best of all) eating less beef?
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Look for our sign- up for Lenten pledges in the Crocker Chapel and stay tuned for an invitation to a simple Lenten family dinner.
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Intergenerational Community
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Youth Group and Exploring Our Faith
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Upcoming High School Youth Group (EOF) Visits:
The Islamic Center in Wayland Following Worship
Sunday, March 3
Pastor Amy will send more information soon, but please save the date and plan to attend. Teens and adults are welcome.
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Dinner Church with the Agape Spiritual Community
Sunday, April 7
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On this day we will join our friends for Dinner and worship, which will include a very special baptism.
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UCW Volunteer Opportunities
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Sunday Reception Sign-Up
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Thank you to the UCW Choir for providing the reception this Sunday.
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We are still looking for hosts for Sunday, March 10 and the rest of 2024.
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Sign up below to support one of the most impactful ways we build connections and community with each other after worship.
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(Simple guidelines listed here also.)
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Scripture Reader Sign-Up
If you are joining our Sunday worship, please consider signing up as a Scripture Reader for any of our upcoming services.
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Scripture Reader Sign-up: HERE Thank you!
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Pastoral Care Connections
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to Senior Pastor, Rev. Megan Berkowitz, or Associate Pastor for Youth & Families, Rev. Amy Clark Feldman for prayer or pastoral support.
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and her phone is 617-965-3893
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Friday is a day of Sabbath for Pastor Megan; Monday is Pastor Amy's day of Sabbath. With a pastoral emergency, please don't hesitate to reach out to either pastor.
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We, the members of The Union Church in Waban, true to our founding principle of being an inclusive church, covenant together to nourish and to sustain in our common life and practice a fully welcoming and affirming church for all persons. Welcoming all persons who seek to join with us in a commitment to love God and our neighbors, affirming the inclusive love of Jesus, we are open to all, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nationality, ability or economic circumstance. We invite all to full participation in our worship, membership, leadership and life of this church.
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